December 25, evening.
Jubilife Airport.
Professor Oak and the others were all planning to fly back to Jubilife City.
Li Wei, Cynthia, Dawn, and Korrina had come to see them off.
Outside the departure lounge's glass curtain wall, a flight from the Kanto Region was slowly taxiing toward the runway.
Ash wore his backpack, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder as always.
Brock had packed his bags as well.
They were about to board their flight back to the Kanto Region.
A faint sadness of parting hung over the lounge.
Red and Blue were already used to this and weren't feeling sad.
Besides, with the Master League coming up next year, they would see one another often.
But things were different for Dawn, Ash, and Brock.
Dawn had only recently started traveling, after all. Once they each set off on their own journeys next year, meeting up would be rather difficult.
Fortunately, they had all joined the Chat Group.
They could still chat there.
Professor Oak, Delia, and the others waited a short distance away while Dawn said goodbye to Ash and Brock.
Li Wei, Cynthia, and Korrina watched quietly from the other side.
Although Korrina had also traveled with Ash and the others for a while, it wasn't the same as it was for Dawn.
Ever since Dawn began her journey, they had traveled together for nearly seven whole months.
Over those seven months, they had learned from and encouraged one another.
Dawn had won her very first Grand Festival, becoming a Top Coordinator.
At the Lily of the Valley Conference, Ash had surpassed his previous best result in one stroke, finishing as the runner-up.
Under the setting sun,
Dawn looked earnestly at Ash and Brock before her.
"Ash, Brock, thank you for looking after me all this time!"